Research Assistant (Nathan/ Hodson lab, Cambridge University): the role of hypoxia in development

Applications are invited to recruit an enthusiastic biological  scientist to work on a Wellcome funded project with Dr Emma Hodson (Associate PI), in the group of Prof James Nathan. We are looking for a research assistant to work on an exciting project that seeks to bridge developmental cell biology and the programming of physiology and disease.

We are interested in how cellular oxygen sensing regulates normal development and the origins of disease. Specifically, we are studying how Hypoxia-inducible factor 2 (HIF-2), an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor, regulates the development of sympathoadrenal and other neural crest-derived paraganglial cells, as mutations affecting HIF-2 signalling are associated with human tumours of these tissues (pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma).

Interestingly, developmental hypoxia is also associated with sympathetic dysfunction, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which may have similar underlying HIF-dependent mechanisms.

We hypothesize that HIF-2 regulates the development of sympathoadrenal lineages, with dysregulated HIF-2 signalling leading to formation of abnormal populations that impact autonomic control of cardiovascular physiology, or in severe cases form tumour precursors. We seek to understand which stages and cell types are most sensitive to dysregulated HIF signalling, how this affects differentiation, and what are the physiological consequences.

We are studying the effects of genetic and pharmacological manipulation of the HIF pathway on sympathoadrenal development. Our models include directed sympathoadrenal differentiation of human stem cells and parallel experiments in the chicken embryo, which allows study of how early embryogenesis impacts late fetal physiology.

We are looking for a research assistant to work on studies in the chicken embryo, assessing how hypoxia and/or HIF-2 activation affects the migration and in vivo differentiation sympathoadrenal precursors. You will perform analyses to identify sympathoadrenal cell populations and assess changes in gene expression and spatial organisation. This will use methods established in the lab including intracellular flow cytometry and single cell RNAseq on dissociated tissues, and immunohistochemistry/ in-situ hybridisation on tissue sections. The study will incorporate both early embryos and also late fetal stages where we have linked physiological data. There will also be the opportunity to gain experience in differentiation of human iPSCs/ ESCs into sympathoadrenal cell types. Together, the post will provide experience in a range of techniques spanning cell biology and animal physiology.

The post will be based in James Nathan’s laboratory in the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, incorporating CIITID and the Cambridge Stem Cell institute, on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The project also involves collaborations with groups at the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (Cambridge University). Together, the team incorporates clinician scientists and academics with expertise in developmental biology, hypoxia signalling, and cardiovascular physiology.

Applicants should have a primary degree in biomedical sciences and some laboratory experience in molecular biology. Experience with stem cell culture, flow cytometry, histology techniques, and/or chicken embryo work is desirable but not essential.

The post is initially offered until 28^th February 2028 but may be extended subject to funding.